Zoology
University of Sheffield
UCAS Code: C309 | Master of Biological Sciences - MBiolSci
University of Sheffield
UCAS Code: C309 | Master of Biological Sciences - MBiolSci
Entry requirements
A level
including Biology* and a second science (second science subjects include Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Psychology, Environmental Science, Geology or Geography). *Human Biology accepted in lieu of Biology, but Biology and Human Biology cannot be accepted in combination as the two sciences.
Access to HE Diploma
Award of Access to HE Diploma in Science, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 39 at Distinction (to include Biology and a second science), and 6 at Merit
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSE Maths and English grade 4/C
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
with 6 in Higher Level Biology and a second science (second science subjects include Chemistry, Maths, Physics, Psychology, or Geography)
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
including Biology and a second science (second science subjects include Chemistry, Maths, or Physics)
Scottish Advanced Higher
in Biology* and a second science + AAABB in Scottish Highers (second science subjects include Chemistry, Maths, Physics, Psychology, Environmental Science, or Geography) *Human Biology accepted in lieu of Biology, but Biology and Human Biology cannot be accepted in combination as the two sciences.
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)
+ AA in Biology* and a second science (second science subjects include Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Psychology, Environmental Science, Geology or Geography). *Human Biology accepted in lieu of Biology, but Biology and Human Biology cannot be accepted in combination as the two sciences
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
**The MBiolSci is designed for students who want to pursue a career in industrial or academic research, with the majority of the fourth year devoted to a major research project.**
**Study animals and biodiversity at every scale, both in the lab and in the field, as you learn how animals function, how to conserve biodiversity and how evolution works. Gain invaluable research experience in your final year working alongside world-leading academics.**
Sheffield's project-focused degree in zoology is a deep dive into biodiversity, conservation, animal behaviour, genetics, physiology, and the impact of climate change.
From your first year you’ll study a range of zoology focused modules, with the freedom to explore optional topics from across the whole of bioscience. You’ll study topics across genetics, microbiology, evolution and biochemistry.
At Sheffield, you’ll be encouraged to be creative, think independently, and express your ideas. You'll be in the lab completing in-depth practicals and studying animal anatomy and physiology in our Alfred Denny Museum. You might also choose to do field research projects in the Peak District National Park, or travel for a field course in the UK or abroad.
As you progress through your degree, you’ll have the option to specialise in key areas such as biodiversity conservation, evolutionary biology, genetics and ecological modelling. Your ability to tackle one or more of these big global challenges will be supported by the field course options, so you start making a difference even during your degree.
Your final year is devoted to a major research project in the lab or in the field. You’ll work alongside our world-leading academics and explore a topic of your choosing in depth.
**Why study this course?**
- **Four year course** - finish with a masters degree, with your fourth year focused on a major research project of your choosing.
- **4th in the UK for research quality** - the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 rated 98% of research and impact from the School of Biosciences as world-leading or internationally excellent.
- **State-of-the-art facilities** - Controlled Environment Facility, Zebrafish facility, Drosophila facility, Bradfield Environment Centre and more.
- **Make the course your own** - focus on specific areas like animal behaviour or biodiversity, or cover the full range of zoology.
- **Varied learning environments** - you’ll be in the lab, the Peak District, zoos, aquariums and embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime field course in the UK or abroad.
Tuition fees
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What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if the overall teaching satisfaction score here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Zoology
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Zoology
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Unsurprisingly, the most common job for a zoology graduate on leaving is to work in a zoo or similar organisation - but there are a lot of other options available if you take this subject. Nearly a quarter of graduates take some kind of further qualification when they leave — mostly Masters degrees in zoology or related subjects, like biology or ecology — but a graduate from a zoology course can go into pretty much anything, with science, conservation, management, finance and marketing some of the most popular areas. Zoology graduates are also rather more likely than others to get a job overseas so if an international career appeals to you, this might be a degree to consider.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Zoology
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£22k
£28k
£29k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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Higher entry requirements
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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):
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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.
You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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